Smart Justice

In recent years public sentiment toward the justice system, both at home and nationwide was quite skeptical and negative. In response, Justice Department officials began a series of reforms including Justice Reinvestment. Proponents say that reforms are working but challenges remain. We'll hear from officials on the front lines of the justice system, learn more about Justice Reinvestment, what reforms are working and what is left to be done to achieve smart justice, when Charlotte Talks.

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Winston Salem man Darryl Hunt spent nearly two decades in prison for a murder he did not commit. In 1985 the 19-year-old black man was charged with assaulting, raping and stabbing to death Deborah Sykes, a young white newspaper reporter. After DNA results proved his innocence in 1994, it till took 10 years of legal appeals until his was finally exonerated in 2004. This case and others like it is part of the work of The Innocence Project. Their mission is to assist prisoners who can be proven innocent through DNA testing - and so far claim more than 300 success stories in the U.S., 18 of those people served time on death row. We'll talk about wrongful convictions, the work of The Innocence Project, life after exoneration, race and injustice in the courtroom and the impact of the repeal of the Racial Justice Act, when Charlotte Talks. (This show was pre-recorded earlier this month.)

There is an ongoing debate about how we seat judges in North Carolina. On one side are supporters of partisan judicial elections, on the other the appointment of judges by the sitting Governor. Other scenarios have been introduced as well. Last year Governor Perdue issued an executive order creating an 18 member committee to select a slate of judges for the Governor to choose from. One of Governor McCrory's first acts was to repeal that order. We'll look at how we choose judges in our state and some of the most popular suggestions for reform, when Charlotte Talks.